Neighbours speak out at vigil held for boy ‘killed and eaten by his mum’

More than three dozen residents held a small vigil for a young boy who was ‘killed and cannibalised’ by his own mother.

The unnamed mum, 32, was charged with murder after the body of a four-year-old boy was found in a home in New South Wales, Australia. The woman allegedly told police she had ‘carried out acts of cannibalism’ on her son when turning herself in.

Officers later discovered the boy’s body with significant arm injuries while carrying out a welfare check at her home on Bryron Street, Wyong. The youngster may have been dead for days, broadcaster Nine News reported.

Today, a small vigil was held for the boy at Wyong Memorial Pool, where one mum said her own son had played with the victim before his death.

‘He seemed really normal and happy and full of energy, but he was a shy little kid,’ she recalled, adding: ‘I honestly wish we’d got to know him because my son absolutely loved playing with him.’

The resident said the boy’s mum was ‘quiet’ and nice to speak with when their children played together, and she didn’t suspect anything was wrong.

‘It all goes back to the fact that you don’t know what happens behind closed doors,’ she said.

Many children were seen with tears in their eyes at the memorial event as they laid down stuffed toys and candles for the victim.

Insiders told The Sydney Morning Herald and the Daily Telegraph that fears of cannibalism came from ‘discussions’ police had with the mum.

The woman, who cannot be identified due to Australian child crime victim laws, drove to the station, which triggered the search of her home.

Her car was seized along with other evidence. Police have not said whether anything recovered at the scene suggested cannibalism.

Supt Chad Gillies said at a press conference that the mum and son had a ‘domestic relationship’ and lived together at the unit.

She was known to the force, he added. The coroner will conduct a post-mortem next week to determine the cause of death.

Neighbour Harley Chislett said that the boy was a ‘little angel’ who often spent hours playing with his toy car and Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppy.

He told the Daily Telegraph: ‘I can’t believe he’s dead. He was a good kid, a bit of a rug rat at times, like all kids that age.’

‘I loved that kid. Sometimes he would be up running around until 9pm, 10pm. It’s like he was running marathons at times.

‘He had lots of energy. He was adorable.’

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